Antigua honeymoon killings: Two men charged with murder of British couple

Friday 15 August 2008 19:29 BST

A boy of 17 and a 20-year-old man appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with the murder of newlyweds Ben and Catherine Mullany.

The British honeymooners were killed on the Caribbean island of Antigua for their digital camera and two mobile phones, worth a total of £451, police said.

Teenager Avie Howell and Keniel Martin were part of a group of eight arrested on Friday.

Accused: Two suspects shield their faces as they leave court in Antigua after being charged with the murder of Ben and Catherine Mullany

Accused: Two suspects shield their faces as they leave court in Antigua after being charged with the murder of Ben and Catherine Mullany

Detectives questioned the pair over the weekend. Raids were also carried out on their homes.

Martin and Howell live half an hour from Cocos Hotel and Resort where Mrs Mullany, a newly qualified doctor of 31, and her husband, a trainee physiotherapist also 31, were murdered.

The couple, from Pontardawe in South Wales, were shot in the head in the early hours of July 27 in their hotel cottage. It was the last day of their honeymoon.

Mrs Mullany died instantly but her husband was flown back to Swansea. His life-support machine was switched off on August 3.

Yesterday the two suspects were charged with double murder, robbery and handling stolen goods.

Neither entered a plea when they appeared before magistrates in the capital St John's.

Outside the court one woman, believed to be related to Martin, said: 'He is innocent. I want to know why they have taken him in.'

Two women, aged 32 and 22, appeared before magistrates in St John's last Thursday charged with handling stolen goods.

It is understood that Martin and Howell were questioned following information given by the women.

Sources say the role of eight British police officers who have flown out to the Caribbean has been crucial to the investigation.

The 350-strong Antiguan police force has no computers, no crime database and only one forensics-trained officer.

Victims: Ben and Catherine Mullany on their wedding day

Victims: Ben and Catherine Mullany on their wedding day

Murder scene: The cottage at Cocos Hotel where the attack happened

Murder scene: The cottage at Cocos Hotel where the attack happened

Police said they are happy with the results of the arrests, and say the murder probe is now taking 'a completely different direction'.

The eight male detainees do not include beach bum Clarence 'Cloud' James, who was previously named as a chief suspect.

The 31-year-old alleged drug dealer has been arrested and released twice over the July 27 execution.

He is currently being monitored by police and has not been ruled out of the inquiry.

Inspector Cornelius Charles, of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, said yesterday: 'We have at least eight men in custody. Officers are picking up more all the time but at present there are eight.

'They are all local men, in their 20s. They are being questioned and I believe there may be some prime suspects among them.

'The investigation seems to be taking a different turn now. We are happy with its progress, we are definitely moving forward.

'Clarence James has not been ruled out but I think that very soon we will know whether he has been involved or not.

'The men are being held at different police stations. We have split them up because we don't want them trying to talk to each other.'

Happy couple: The Mullanys on holiday

Happy couple: The Mullanys on holiday

Meanwhile, police are closely guarding details about the two Hispanic women, who are thought to be from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and living in Antigua.

Officers obtained a court order allowing them to hold back their identities for fear of damaging the inquiry at a critical stage.

It is understood the stolen property includes the Mullanys' digital camera, with which they took many holiday snaps.

Physiotherapist Ben Mullany and his paediatrician wife Catherine, both 31, were blasted in the head in the apparent bungled robbery at the end of their honeymoon.

Both were buried this week in a private ceremony in the same church where they had exchanged their wedding vows just one month earlier.

Eight British police officers have now flown to Antigua to join the hunt for the killers, including forensic experts who have combed the small wooden bungalow for evidence.